Compare towns
Paxton vs Mendon vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Paxton | Mendon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
6,325 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.